I take your point about airtime, but I'm not quite sure that you're getting mine.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">9/10 times you will be routed through the overhead via the touchdown threshold. The option of a more direct transit will only normally be offered if there is no IFR traffic current or anticipated.</font>
That's my point. BPK-Woburn is a straight line that goes through the EGGW overhead. By giving the full route I'm basically implying "I know what I'm doing, I've done this many times before and I've planned to give you, the ATCO, minumum hassle but still get a direct transit." It may seem redundant, but, in my opinion and experience, it increases your chances of an on-track transit.
Of course on a westerly day I'll break off for Stewartby once north of the EGGW zone. It's even more important the other way round, as a 22 VFR departure is likely to put you in the Woburn area.
As I said, in my experience when I have just called 'BPK 2400ft inbound cranfield...' I have got 'route via Hemel Hempstead and the overhead'. Now that may be coincidence, but I was told this trick by Cranfield instructors as a way of almost guarateeing an on-track transit (subject to traffic of course), and it has worked every time for me.
Now I have to admit that I haven't been through Luton recently, I understand that their missed app procedures have changed and they may be more reticent for VFR transit in future...
[This message has been edited by foghorn (edited 15 March 2001).]